HG Lewis' gore classic Two Thousand Maniacs isn't the obvious choice for the remake treatment, but surprisingly enough it got one - and it's pretty damn good! Actually, I'd say that this film is more of a sequel than a remake, as it takes in the same basic plot idea as the sixties splatterfest, but other than that the film is mostly new. And besides, the Godfather of Gore did promise us that the South was going to rise again. The film takes in many of Lewis' trademarks; from over the top silly gore, to a great streak of black humour. The Southern swing has been retained too, and we get treated to all manner of weird Redneck traits - best of all being the pair of minstrels that pop up every now and again to sing us a song! As mentioned, the basic plot remains the same and follows a bunch of young kids who end up in the strange town of Pleasant Valley after taking several detours. They arrive just as the town is about to take up it's Jubilee celebrations, and believe it or not; the teenagers become the guests of honour! However, they end up being offered more than just free beer...
The fact that the film features the questionable talents of a bunch of young actors will no doubt annoy fans of the original, as it could easily be taken that the film is taking in too many of modern horror's traits. However, I disagree; the young cast do well in their respective roles, and the characters are generally quite easy to like. It's the older cast members that really make the movie stand out, however, and it's obvious that Robert Englund had a good time playing the central role he has in this film. He is joined by prolific actress Lin Shaye, who also does well as his opposite number. Obviously, the most important thing about this film is the gore - and in true HG Lewis fashion, it's amazingly over the top! We've got acid, limb-tearing, eye popping, a nasty little scene involving metal teeth and more! The gore is hard to take seriously...and HG fans will know why that's a good thing. It has to be said that the film is a little messy, but it doesn't matter because it's a constant stream of entertainment. If we're not witnessing a bloody death scene, there's always plenty of naked chicks and Southern 'hospitality' on hand to keep the film fun. Overall, I recommend this film.
The fact that the film features the questionable talents of a bunch of young actors will no doubt annoy fans of the original, as it could easily be taken that the film is taking in too many of modern horror's traits. However, I disagree; the young cast do well in their respective roles, and the characters are generally quite easy to like. It's the older cast members that really make the movie stand out, however, and it's obvious that Robert Englund had a good time playing the central role he has in this film. He is joined by prolific actress Lin Shaye, who also does well as his opposite number. Obviously, the most important thing about this film is the gore - and in true HG Lewis fashion, it's amazingly over the top! We've got acid, limb-tearing, eye popping, a nasty little scene involving metal teeth and more! The gore is hard to take seriously...and HG fans will know why that's a good thing. It has to be said that the film is a little messy, but it doesn't matter because it's a constant stream of entertainment. If we're not witnessing a bloody death scene, there's always plenty of naked chicks and Southern 'hospitality' on hand to keep the film fun. Overall, I recommend this film.